Blood dialyzer

ABSTRACT

A hemodialysis apparatus that carries out hemodialysis treatment by measuring or calculating the blood volume or its volume change as a blood indication level, and by controlling dialysis conditions according to said target blood indication level, wherein the chronological course of said blood indication level is defined as a target control line, and the primary blood volume (BV 0 ) can be calculated as blood indication level. In the former part of the dialysis operation, the water removal is controlled so that the circulating blood volume in the body approach to the standard blood volume (BV st) with the use of said target control line. After the water removal of the former part of the dialysis operation, when the circulating blood volume in the body attains the standard blood volume (BV st), the latter part of the dialysis operation is started. In said latter part of the dialysis operation, the water removal operation is performed by substantively maintaining said standard blood volume (BV st).

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/484,850, filed Apr. 12, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,241,378, which is a national stage application of International Application Number PCT/JP02/07597 filed Jul. 26,2002, both of which applications are incorporated herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a blood treatment apparatus, especially to a hemodialysis apparatus which can control water removal conditions and water removal speed so as to prevent excessive water removal and also lack of water removal in the contrary, which occur frequently during hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND ART

For treating patients with impaired kidney function, treatments by purifying blood by dialysis or filtration via semipermeable membrane have been provided conventionally. As for this apparatus, it is important to appropriately maintain the blood volume circulating in the patient body, to perform safe and effective blood purification. A rapid or excessive water removal will decrease excessively patient's blood circulating volume, and it may cause reduction of blood pressure, shock or the like. On the contrary, if the water removal is slow, it will take a long time for blood purification, and if sufficient water removal cannot be made, there is a fear that hypertension, heart failure or the like can occur. Therefore, a hemodialysis apparatus performing water removal by monitoring patient's blood condition has been developed. For example, in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-83723, an estimating apparatus which estimates the body fluid condition with a Hematocrit meter, and a controlling apparatus which controls the blood pump or ultra pressure by the output of said estimating apparatus are described. Concerning this apparatus, it is convenient as the water removal is controlled directly according to the measured body fluid condition, but on the other hand, as the water removal is controlled directly by the measured value, in case the result of the measuring means is not accurate or a trouble happens, it may cause a significant problem. Therefore, in such feed-forward control, generally, a separate line independent from the control line is disposed and a safety mechanism is loaded on said line. However, the apparatus becomes complicated when an independent line or safety mechanism is disposed and the operation becomes difficult. Furthermore, the cost of the apparatus will rise. Therefore, a simple apparatus as described in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 9-149935 was also developed. In other words, while monitoring the patient's blood condition, an alarm is ringed depending to the condition, and the water removal pump is stopped. However, this apparatus only recognizes if the water removal control is performed under the same control condition at the time of the initiation of dialysis, by comparing with the blood concentration measured before the initiation of dialysis, and it is not possible to perform adequate water removal to each patent. Furthermore, if the water removal is not performed according to the condition, the operator has to adjust each time the water removal volume or fluid replacement volume. Thus, even though it was safe, it was complicated and the human cost was high. Moreover, as for said apparatus, a means for measuring the blood condition is disposed on the line at the vein fluid side of the blood cycle, the blood condition after having passed the blood treatment machine (dialyser) is measured, thus it may not reflect the patient's direct blood condition.

To provide a blood treatment apparatus which have solved the problems mentioned above, that is, to provide a convenient apparatus at a low cost by making a structure wherein each patient's blood condition is monitored, enabling to perform blood treatment adequate to each patient chronologically, by not imposing much burden to the operator during its use, and by making the construction of the blood treatment apparatus simple, the present inventors provided a blood treatment apparatus (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-22175), comprising a blood measuring means for measuring blood parameters; a working unit for performing blood treatment; and a controlling unit controlling the working unit to perform blood treatment under prescribed blood treatment condition, wherein the controlling unit indicates the change of the blood treatment condition to the working unit, by setting a blood indication region determined beforehand against the patient blood indication level obtained with said blood measuring means, according to the chronological transition of said blood indication level in said blood indication region. Furthermore, the present inventors have improved said blood treatment apparatus (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-22175), and proposed a blood treatment apparatus (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-540), wherein by monitoring each patient's blood condition, the condition of hemodialysis adequate to each patient chronologically, especially the water removal speed can be easily changed and defined. Said blood treatment apparatus (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2001-540) is a hemodialysis apparatus comprising at least: (A) a blood measuring means for measuring blood parameter, (B) a working unit for performing blood treatment; and (C) a controlling unit for controlling the working unit to perform blood treatment under prescribed blood treatment condition; wherein the hemodialysis apparatus has a mechanism for controlling the water removal speed, and the controlling unit (C) incorporates the blood indicating level obtained from the patients' samples by the blood measuring means (A), monitoring if it transits or not within the defined range defined beforehand of blood indication level (hereinafter also referred to as defined range of blood indication level), and when said blood indication level being the target to control deviates from said range defined beforehand, the water removal speed of the working unit (B) can be changed at a speed rate defined beforehand.

As for the hemodialysis apparatus mentioned above, it was possible to manage surely the blood indication level at each point during hemodialysis treatment, but because it was necessary to define the region of the target blood indication level at each point, the operation was complicated. Furthermore, as the defined blood indication level was designated as a range, as long as a blood indication level exists within the defined range, even it is at the absolute edge of the range, the control mechanism of the hemodialysis apparatus would not work. Therefore, in case the blood indication level actually measured is slightly missing the point from the target, there was a fear that the control would be delayed. Furthermore, as for said apparatus, minute details were defined in each region, and the control is carried out according to these, the physiological water removal adequate to each patient was difficult to be carried out. On the contrary, when the water removal mild to the living body is intended to be carried out, it happened that the water removal volume which was determined beforehand, can not be attained.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a hemodialysis apparatus that can achieve the following effects:

-   (1) The control mechanism is simple, and there is little risk of     misoperation or out-of-control. -   (2) As there is no need of difficult installation or unnecessary     operation, the operator can easily operate without difficulty. -   (3) As the control is carried out rapidly and finely, the blood     volume can be transited fairly during the hemodialysis.

The present invention provides a hemodialysis apparatus that carries out hemodialysis treatment by measuring or calculating the blood volume or its volume change as an indication level (hereinafter also called as blood indication level), and by controlling dialysis conditions according to said blood indication level, wherein the chronological course of said target blood indication level is defined as the target control line, the water removal is controlled with the use of said target control line so that the blood volume circulating in the body approach to the standard blood volume (BV st) in the former part of the dialysis (hereinafter also called as control in the former part of dialysis operation), the latter part of the dialysis is started when the blood volume circulating in the body attains the standard blood volume (BV st) by the water removal carried out during said former part of the dialysis, and the water removal operation is controlled by maintaining substantively said standard blood volume (BV st) in the latter part of the dialysis (hereinafter also called as controlling means in the latter part of dialysis operation). Thus, the technical object mentioned above was solved.

As said blood indication level, an optional level can be used as long as it shows the blood volume circulating in the patient, and ΔBV, % ΔBV and the like obtained from BV level (Blood Volume) level, % BV, Hematocrit level can be exemplified. The definition of these parameters, and their calculating formulae are described hereinafter.

The control of the water removal speed in the former part of the dialysis operation of the hemodialysis apparatus with the use of said target control line is performed by using the blood indication level measured at each measurement point; and the target blood indication level showed by said target control line at the next measurement point of each measurement point.

The control of the water removal speed in the former part of the dialysis operation of the hemodialysis apparatus with the use of said target control line can be calculated according to each blood indication level of two adjacent measurement points; the water removal speed used between the two measurement points mentioned above; the blood indication level at the time of the initiation of the hemodialysis; and the target blood indication level determined by said target control line at the next measurement point of the two measurement points mentioned above.

Concretely, said control can be carried out by using the following formula (n). BV ₀{−(% ΔBV _(n−1′)−% ΔBV _(n′))+(% ΔBV _(n′)−% ΔBV _(n+1))}+UFR _(N) ×T=UFR _(n+1) ×T  (n) (wherein BV₀ is the blood volume at the time of the initiation of dialysis (hereinafter also referred as primary blood volume); % ΔBV_(n′) is the ratio of the blood volume change at an optional selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the dialysis operation; % ΔBV_(n−1′) is the ratio of the blood volume change at the previous measurement point of the selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the dialysis operation; % ΔBV_(n+1) is the ratio of the blood volume change determined by said target control line at a measurement point (n+1), the next measurement point of the measurement point (n); T is the measurement time; UFR_(n) is the water removal speed at the selected measurement point in the former part of the dialysis operation; and UFR_(n+1) is the water removal speed defined when the control toward the working unit is carried out, to attain the target blood indication level at a measurement point (n+1), the next measurement point of the measurement point (n), respectively.)

Said formula (n) is calculated as follows:

When the BV level at the time of the initiation of dialysis is set as BV₀ (primary blood volume), at each measurement point in the former part of the dialysis operation, for example, relational formulae as follows are obtained between BV level, PPR and UFR at the first and second measurement point.

1st Measurement Point BV ₀{(100%−% ΔBV ₁)−(100%−% ΔBV ₂)}=PRR ₁ −UFR ₁ BV ₀(−% ΔBV _(1′)+% ΔBV _(2′))/T=PRR ₁ −UFR ₁  (1) 2nd Measurement Point BV ₀(−% ΔBV _(2′)+% ΔBV ₃)/T=PRR ₂ −UFR ₂  (2) Here, BV₀, % ΔBV_(1′), % ΔBV_(2′) and T show the BV level at the time of the initiation of dialysis, the ratio of the BV volume change at the first or second measurement point and the elapsed time of dialysis, respectively. Moreover, % ΔBV₃ is determined by the target control line.

Similar relations are also obtained at each optional measurement points, (n−1) or (n), as it is shown in the following relational formulae.

(n−1)th Measurement Point BV ₀(−% ΔBV _(n−1′)+% ΔBV _(n′))/T=PRR _(n−1) −UFR _(n−1) (n)th Measurement Point BV ₀(−% ΔBV _(n′)+% ΔBV _(n+1))/T=PRR _(n−1) −UFR _(n−1)

By subtracting said formula (2) from said formula (1), the following formula (3) is obtained. BV ₀{(% ΔBV _(1′)−% ΔBV _(2′))−(% ΔBV _(2′)−% ΔBV ₃)}/T=PRR ₁ −PRR ₂ +UFR ₂ −UFR ₁  (3)

When it is hypothecated there is no difference between PRR₁ and PRR₂, that is the distance between the measurement points are defined to be short so as the patient's PPR is not changed substantively at each measurement point, the first and second terms in the right side are deleted. Thus, the following formula (4) is obtained. BV ₀{−(% ΔBV _(1′)−% ΔBV _(2′))+(% ΔBV _(2′)−% ΔBV ₃)}/T+UFR ₁ =UFR ₂  (4)

In this formula, % ΔBV₃ is the target level at the next measurement point, and is a level for the blood indication level to approach by carrying out the control. Furthermore, UFR₂ is the water removal speed to define so that the blood indication level at the next measurement point approaches the target level mentioned above. Here, BV₀, % ΔBV_(1′), % ΔBV_(2′), T are well known as the BV level at the time of the initiation of dialysis, the ratio of the blood volume change at the first or second measurement point, and the elapsed time of dialysis, respectively. Moreover, UFR₁ is also well known as the water removal speed from the first measurement point to the second measurement point. Therefore, if % ΔBV₃, which is the target ratio of the BV volume change is specified, the water removal speed being a dialysis condition can be calculated with the formula (4). The target BV level can be determined by the target control line, from the measurement point. On the contrary, if the hemodialysis treatment is carried out with that water removal speed, the BV level at the next measurement point can approach the target level, that is the target control line.

When describing the above formula for an optional measurement point (n), it is shown as the following formula (n), and as described above, the water removal speed to be defined so that the blood indication level approaches the target at the next point is determined by the BV volume change at the two measurement points; the water removal speed between the two measurement points; the measurement level of the dialysis time T; and the blood indication level defined at the next measurement point of the two measurement points mentioned above, determined according to the target control line of said blood indication level. BV ₀{−(% ΔBV _(n−1′)−% ΔBV _(n′))+(% ΔBV _(n′)−% ΔBV _(n+1))}/T+UFR _(n) =UFR _(n+1)  (n)

In said formula, BV₀ is the blood volume at the time of the initiation of dialysis operation; % ΔBV_(n′) is the ratio of the blood volume change at an optional selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the dialysis; % ΔBV_(n−1′) is the ratio of the blood volume change at the previous measurement point of an optional selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the dialysis operation; % ΔBV_(n+1) is the ratio of the blood volume change defined at a measurement point to carry out feed-forward control in the former part of the dialysis operation (next measurement point of measurement point (n)); T is the measurement time; UFR_(n) is the water removal speed at the selected measurement point in the former part of the dialysis operation; and UFR_(n+1) is the water removal speed defined at the next measurement point from the selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the dialysis operation, when the control is carried out toward the working unit, to attain the target blood indication level, respectively. However, to obtain said formulae (4) and (n), the condition that “there is no difference between the PRRs at each measurement point”, which was hypothecated to derive these formulae, is an assumption, and to meet this condition, it is important that the distance between each measurement point (ΔT) is defined to be short so that there is no difference between the PRRs. Moreover, as for this controlling method, errors to the control may occur due to errors of BV₀ at the time of the initiation of dialysis, control delay and other factors, but in the actual control, the control is ensured by defining the water removal speed at each point (measurement point).

In other words, as for the water removal operation in the former part of the dialysis operation mentioned above, as it is described above, the distance between each measurement point is defined to be short and the water removal speed is defined each time, the errors occurring substantively cause no problems.

The water removal is performed by controlling the water removal speed with a controlling means as mentioned above, and when the blood volume circulating in the body approaches the standard blood volume, the dialysis operation of the latter part of the dialysis operation is started. When the dialysis operation of the latter part of the dialysis operation is started, the remaining water removal volume of the target water removal volume is measured or calculated, and the water removal speed is calculated again to finish removing said water removal volume within the target water removal time, and the water removal of the latter part of the dialysis operation can be performed with said water removal speed.

As for the water removal operation of the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to determine beforehand the maximum water removal speed separately for the former part of the dialysis operation and the latter part of the dialysis operation, respectively, and when the water removal speed calculated in the former part or latter part of the dialysis operation mentioned above, exceeds said maximum water removal speed, to control so that the water removal is performed with said maximum water removal speed.

As for the control of the water removal operation of the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable to define separately for the former part and the latter part of the dialysis operation, respectively, a deviated control line (alarm line) to limit the chronological change of the blood indication level within a predetermined range, under said target control line, and when said blood indication level exceed said deviated control line (alarm line), to carry out by controlling the working means that carries out the hemodialysis treatment so that the dialysis condition to recover said blood indication level to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) is performed.

As for means to recover said blood indication level to be above said deviated control line (alarm line), there is means to stop temporarily the water removal means.

In the former part of the dialysis operation, when the means to recover the blood indication level to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) is performed, and at the time the blood indication level is recovered to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) as a result, the dialysis operation is started again according to the control of the former part of the dialysis operation. Furthermore, in the latter part of the dialysis operation, when the means to recover the blood indication level to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) is performed, and at the time the blood indication level is recovered to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) as a result, the water removal speed is calculated again so that the remaining water removal volume at that time is finished to be removed within the target water removal time, and the dialysis operation of the latter part of the dialysis operation of the latter part of the dialysis operation is started again with said water removal speed.

Furthermore, as for the control of the water removal operation for the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, especially in the latter part of the dialysis operation, it is preferable to enable to control so that the blood indication level is recovered rapidly to be above said deviated control line (alarm line), by defining it under said deviated control line (alarm line), and in case the blood indication level reaches downward by further exceeding said urgent liquid supply line, not only to stop temporarily the working means that carries out blood treatment as mentioned above, but to use also a water replacement means to inject water replacement into the body.

Furthermore, the present inventors have found that as for the control of the water removal speed with the use of said target control line, the change of the blood volume appears after the change of the water removal speed (especially at the point when the target control line drastically changes). Moreover, they have found that when the feed forward control mentioned above is carried out by ignoring said phenomenon, there is a problem that the control is not stable, and they have proposed to solve the problems occurred form said control delay by considering said control delay (Japanese patent application 2002-19447), to solve this object. However, as for means proposed above, for example means for calculating the forecast of the dialysis condition necessary to attain the next target blood indication level (blood volume change) according to the blood indication level at the point the control delay time has passed, in the controlling method of the water removal speed using said target control line, can be used when a problem of control delay as mentioned above occurs in the controlling method of the water removal speed which uses said target control line of the present invention.

In the following, parameters concerning blood and blood indication level and blood used in the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, will be explained concretely.

1. Primary Blood Volume (BV₀)

It is preferable to use the patient's inherent primary blood volume as one of the controlling factors in the former part of the dialysis operation. Said patient's inherent primary blood volume can be calculated for example by the two following methods.

(1) The First Method for Calculating the Primary Blood Volume (BV₀)

The first method for calculating the primary blood volume (BV₀) is explained according to FIG. 3.

At the time of the initiation of dialysis, as the blood volume is not stable, the water removal is not performed, and only circulation outside the body is performed. By continuing circulation outside the body until the blood volume stabilizes, in case the turgor pressure inside the cells is sufficiently high, and the water runs over the cells and is accumulated up to the cell stroma, it is believed that the body fluid (the inflow volume from the cells of FIG. 3) corresponding to the increased blood volume circulating outside the body (space outside the body) will move from the cells to the blood vessel. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient, according to the following formula (I) with the increased blood volume circulating outside the body (space outside the body) and % ΔBV_(x). Primary blood volume (BV ₀)=increased blood volume circulating outside the body (space outside the body)% ΔBV _(x)  (I) (% ΔBV_(x) is the ratio of the blood volume change when only circulation outside the body is performed without performing water removal.) (2) The Second Method for Calculating the Primary Blood Volume (BV₀)

The primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient can be obtained also by the following method. Said second calculating method is explained according to FIG. 4.

By using the hemodialysis apparatus which controls dialysis conditions according to the blood indication level, only circulation outside the body is performed without performing water removal, at the time of the initiation of dialysis as shown in FIG. 4, said circulation outside the body is continued until the blood volume (BV) level stabilizes, and when the blood volume (BV) level becomes stable, dialysis accompanied by water removal is initiated, and at the same time as said dialysis is initiated, the water removal is performed with a certain time ΔT (within the time PRR does not change), and with a certain water removal speed (water removal speed A), and thus ΔBV_(A), which is the volume change of said BV level is calculated. Then, the water removal is performed for the same time as said certain time ΔT with a different water removal speed (water removal speed B), and thus, ΔBV_(B) which is the volume change of said BV level, is calculated. Thus, BV₀ can be calculated by using said ΔBV_(A), said ΔBV_(B), water removal speed A and water removal speed B.

The primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient calculated by said second method, can be calculated concretely according to the following formula (II). BV ₀=(water removal speed A−water removal speed B)/(−ΔBVA%+ΔBVB%)×ΔT  (II) Said formula can be calculated as follows. The calculating method is explained according to FIG. 4. ΔBV/ΔT=PRR−UFR −ΔBV _(A) /ΔT+ΔBV _(B) /ΔT=water removal speed A−water removal speed B ΔBV _(A) =ΔBV ₀·% ΔBV _(A) ΔBV _(B) =ΔBV ₀·% ΔBV _(B) BV ₀ /ΔT(−% ΔBV _(A)+% ΔBV _(B))=water removal speed A−water removal speed B BV ₀ /ΔT=(water removal speed A−water removal speed B)/(−% ΔBV _(A)+% ΔBV _(B))

As for the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that it is a constitution that enables to carry out control with the use of blood indication level, wherein the target BV % is calculated automatically according to the following formula with the use of the primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient calculated as mentioned above, and the standard blood volume (BV st) which is defined beforehand by doctors and the like. Target BV%=standard blood volume (BV st)/primary blood volume (BV ₀)×100 Meanwhile, said standard blood volume (BV st) is a level of the blood volume (BV st) which the patient would have if healthy, defined beforehand by doctors and the like by considering factors that might influence the human blood volume, for example the patient's age, sex, body height and the like.

In the meantime, the calculating method of said primary blood volume (BV₀) of the present invention is, as it is clear from its calculating method, it is not limited to the hemodialysis apparatus controlling the water removal operation by dividing the dialysis operation to the former and latter part, and it is widely acceptable as long as it is a hemodialysis apparatus that carries out hemodialysis treatment by measuring or calculating the blood volume or its volume change as the blood indication level to control the dialysis condition according to said blood indication level.

2. Definition of the Blood Indication Level being the Blood Volume or its Volume Change and its Calculating Formula

(1) BV Level

BV level is the abbreviation of Blood Volume level and is the circulating blood volume index which is the indication level to check the condition of the circulating blood volume of each patient.

(2)ΔBV Level

It is the BV volume change, and it is calculated by the following formula. ΔBV [BV volume change]=(Ht at the time of the initiation of dialysis/Ht at the time of measurement)−1

Said Ht is the abbreviation of Hematocrit showing the bulk ratio of red corpuscle in the whole blood.

(3) % ΔBV

It is the ratio of the blood volume change, and as shown in the following formula, the ΔBV level at the time of measurement is divided by BV₀ which is the BV level at the time of the initiation of dialysis and is expressed in percentage. ΔBV%=ΔBV/BV ₀×100 (4) BV %

It is calculated by dividing the BV level at the time of measurement by BV₀ at the time of the initiation of dialysis and is expressed in percentage. BV %=BV level at the time of measurement/BV₀×100

3. Definition of Other Parameters of Blood and their Calculating Formula

(1) Definition of PRR

PRR is an abbreviation for Plasma Refilling Rate, and is defined as speed of the blood plasma refilling from the body to the blood vessel, and shows the patient's water removal ability at each point.

(2) Formula for Calculating PRR

PPR is calculated with the following formula: PRR _(n) −UFR _(n) =ΔBV _(n) /T _(n) [wherein PRR_(n) is the Plasma Refilling Rate at an optional selected measurement point (n), UFR_(n) is the water removal speed at an optional selected measurement point (n), ΔBV_(n) is the blood volume change at an optional selected measurement point (n), T_(n) is the elapsed time until an optional selected measurement point (n), and UFR is the water removal speed, respectively.]

Hereinafter, the target control line, the data line and the estimated control line used in the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention will be explained.

The longitudinal axis of FIG. 2 is % ΔBV level, and the horizontal axis shows the elapsed time form the initiation of dialysis.

(1) Target Control Line:

It is shown by a hatched line A in the former part of the dialysis in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, and by a horizontal line D in the latter part of dialysis. According to this target control line of FIG. 1, in the former part of the dialysis operation, a dialysis operation, for example water removal, which decreases the blood volume reasonably to the body is performed, and in the latter part of dialysis operation, a dialysis operation, for example water removal, which maintains the blood volume suitable to each patient according to the target control line, that is, to maintain the standard blood volume substantively constant is performed. Therefore, this target control line is an indication of the chronological course or the chronological target level of the blood indication level. In the meantime, said target control line is defined before dialysis by doctors and the like, and its angle of gradient is determined by the relation with the target water removal volume.

(2) Data Line and Estimated Control Line

It will be explained according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The data line B is the ratio of the blood volume change composed with data level of the blood indication level of % ΔBV_(1′), ΔBV_(2′) and the like. The estimated control line near by the target control line A is determined as follows: by using the blood indication level according to the measurement levels such as BV, ΔBV or % ΔBV and the like at the measurement point (controlling point); and the target blood indication level shown by said target control line A at the next measurement point (controlling point), the dialysis conditions (for example, the water removal speed) to attain the target blood indication level at the next measurement point (controlling point) is calculated, and the hemodialysis treatment is carried out under this calculated dialysis conditions (for example, the water removal speed), to attain the next measurement point (controlling point). As a result, the data line B which will likely slip away from the target control line A, will be corrected by the dialysis conditions newly defined at every measurement point (controlling point), and therefore become the estimated control line C, which transits along said target control line A.

(3) Deviated Control Line (Alarm Line) and Urgent Liquid Supply Line

The hatched line downward sloping shown beneath the target control line in the former part of the dialysis operation, and the horizontal line in the latter part of the dialysis operation in FIG. 1, is the deviated control line (alarm line) E to function as a deviated control line (alarm line). Furthermore, the horizontal line defined under the deviated control line (alarm line) E in the latter part of the dialysis operation is the urgent liquid supply line F.

In case dialysis operation is carried out under the control of the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, in case the blood indication level actually measured in the former and latter part of the dialysis operation exceeds said deviated control line (alarm line) E, it is preferable to adapt an emergency control, and for example in the former part of the dialysis operation, it is preferable to adapt an emergency control different from the feed-forward control which uses said target control line. For example, as it is shown in the graph in FIG. 1, in case the data line showing the transition of the data level deviates beneath the alarm line E, the water removal means such as water removal pump and the like should be stopped, or in case the data line deviates beneath the urgent liquid supply line F, if necessary, a fluid replacement to the patient using a fluid replacement pump is performed by priority before carrying out the control by feed-forward.

As mentioned above, the hemodialysis apparatus of the present aspect does not only have the function to approach the blood indication level to the target, but in case (the blood indication level is) deviated in a dangerous region, it is possible to ensure the safety of the patient by preferentially operating the emergency control. Moreover, the defined water removal speed is shown in the bottom half of the graph in FIG. 1.

The hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention stops the water removal means such as water removal pump and the like by using said deviated control line (alarm line) E or urgent liquid supply line F, or if necessary performs a fluid replacement to the patient using a fluid replacement pump by priority, also in the latter part of dialysis operation, as described above. Therefore, the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention does not only have the function to approach easily the blood indication level of the hemodialysis to the target or the standard blood volume in the former part of the dialysis operation, but in the former part of the dialysis operation and/or in the latter part of the dialysis operation, in case (the blood indication level is) deviated in a dangerous region, it is possible to ensure the safety of the patient by preferentially operating the emergency control.

In the latter part of the dialysis operation, at the time that the water removal volume that was planned to be removed in the former part of the dialysis operation was removed, the water removal control of the latter part of the dialysis operation is started. At this time, the water removal speed is calculated to finish removing the remaining water removal volume within the target water removal time, and the water removal is performed with said water removal speed. However, in case said water removal speed exceed the maximum water removal speed line defined for the latter part of the dialysis operation, the hemodialysis is carried out with the maximum water removal speed, as for the former part of the dialysis operation.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

By using the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention, excellent effects such as (1)-(3), as follows, can be obtained.

(1) The control mechanism is simple, and there is little risk of misoperation or out-of-control.

(2) As there is no need of difficult installation or unnecessary operation, the operator can easily operate without difficulty.

(3) As the control is carried out rapidly and finely, the blood volume can be transited fairly during the hemodialysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a figure explaining the controlling method of the entire water removal operation of the blood treatment apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a figure showing the control in the former part of the water removal operation of the blood treatment apparatus. In FIG. 1, (a) is the period performing only circulation outside the body without performing water removal, (b) is the water removal period at the time of the initiation of the water removal, (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o) and (p) are water removal speed determined with the use of said target control line, alarm line E and maximum water removal line G or H, used in the corresponding period. In FIG. 2, % ΔBV_(1′), % ΔBV_(2′), % ΔBV_(3′), % ΔBV_(4′), and % ΔBV_(5′) are the ratio of the blood volume change measured at the measurement point 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; % ΔBV₁, % ΔBV₂, % ΔBV₃, % ΔBV₄, and % ΔBV₅ are the ratio of the blood volume change determined by the target control line at the measurement point 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Further, ΔT is the interval of measurement time between each measurement point. Moreover, A is the control line (former part), B is the data line, C is the estimated control line, D is the control line (latter part), E is the deviated control line (alarm line), F is the urgent liquid supply line, G is the maximum water removal speed line, and H is the maximum water removal speed line, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a figure explaining the first calculating method of the primary blood volume (BV₀).

FIG. 4 is a figure explaining the second calculating method of the primary blood volume (BV₀).

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 1. Example 1

The first method for calculating the primary blood volume (BV₀) is explained according to FIG. 3.

When starting dialysis, as the BV level was unstable, the water removal was not performed at the time of the initiation of dialysis (water removal speed is 0), and only circulation outside the body was performed. The blood volume level increased gradually, and after a fixed amount of time, the blood volume stabilized at a constant maximum value. At this time, the hemodialysis apparatus was reset, and the dialysis operation with water removal was started. The primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient was obtained from said maximum level of BV, and n % BV level, which is the increased blood volume outside the body by using formula (I). Then, the target BV % was automatically calculated from said primary blood volume (BV₀) of each patient and the standard blood volume defined beforehand by doctors and the like, as mentioned above.

2. Example 2

The second method for calculating the primary blood volume (BV₀) is explained according to FIG. 4.

As Example 1, when starting dialysis, as the blood volume was unstable, the water removal was not performed at the time of the initiation of the dialysis (water removal speed is 0), and only circulation outside the body was performed. The blood volume level increased gradually, and after a fixed amount of time, the blood volume stabilized at a constant maximum value. At this time, the water removal was performed during a fixed amount of time (within time that PRR does not change), at a constant water removal speed (water removal speed A), % ΔBV₁ which is the ratio of the volume change of that BV level is calculated. Then, the water removal is performed during the same time as the fixed amount of time mentioned above, with a different water removal speed (water removal speed B), and % ΔBV₂ which is the ratio of the volume change of that BV level is calculated. Thus, the patient's inherent primary blood volume level is easily obtained with the use of said % ΔBV₁, % ΔBV₂, water removal speed A and water removal speed B, according to said formula (II). The target BV % is automatically calculated as in Example 1 mentioned above.

3. Example 3 Embodiments of Control for Dialysis Operation

The embodiments of control for dialysis operation of the hemodialysis apparatus of the present invention is explained according to FIG. 1. In the bottom half of FIG. 1, the defined water removal speed is shown.

As it is shown in FIG. 1, the maximum water removal speed line G and H are defined in the former and latter part of the dialysis operation, in the bottom half of FIG. 1, the defined water removal speed (or the history) in the former and latter part of the dialysis operation are shown.

Former part of the dialysis operation

(1) Start of Dialysis

When starting dialysis, as the BV level is unstable, the water removal is not performed at the time of the initiation of dialysis (water removal speed is 0), only circulation outside the body is performed, and it is waited for the time interval to pass until the BV level stabilizes (period a).

(2) The Time of the Initiation of the Measurement

After the BV value stabilizes, the hemodialysis apparatus is reset and the measurement is started again. At this time, during the water removal time b at the time of the initiation of measurement shown in FIG. 1, the patient's primary blood volume (BV₀) is obtained according to Example 2. Furthermore, this patient's primary blood volume (BV₀) can be obtained according to Example 1 mentioned above, after the BV level stabilizes at the start of dialysis mentioned in above (1), with the use of the variation level of the blood indication level in said circulation outside the body, and the increased blood volume level circulating outside the body.

The control of the water removal means by feed-forward control according to said target control line is started, according to the water removal speed adapted to obtain the primary blood volume in the example 2 mentioned above, and each % ΔBV which occurred at that time. Among the water removal speed (c)-(i) in the former part of the dialysis operation determined with the control method mentioned above, the water removal speed d and h in the former part of the dialysis operation exceed the maximum water removal speed line G, therefore the maximum water removal speed is adapted. In the meantime, when the water removal speed exceeds the maximum water removal speed line, it is most preferable to adapt the maximum water removal speed as said water removal speed, but it may be a water removal speed less than the maximum water removal speed. Moreover, as the data level of the blood volume or the blood volume change during dialysis at water removal speed (f), becomes less than that of the alarm line, the water removal speed is set f=0 (that is, water removal is not performed).

(3) Restart of the Water Removal

In the former part of the dialysis operation, when the blood volume or the blood volume change becomes less than the alarm level, the water removal is stopped (water removal speed f=0), but when the blood volume or the blood volume change exceeds the control line as a result of the termination of water removal, the water removal is started again. As for the primary water removal speed of the control at the time of starting again, the water removal is performed with the water removal speed predicated by the method mentioned above. At the time when the water removal volume predicted to be removed in the former part of the dialysis operation is removed and the standard blood volume approaches, or at the time when the ratio of the blood volume (% BV) becomes the object blood volume ratio (object % BV), the control of water removal of the latter part of dialysis operation is started.

(4) Latter Part of Dialysis Operation

The water removal speed is calculated to finish removing the remaining water removal volume within the target water removal time, and the water removal is performed with said water removal speed. When performing water removal with this water removal speed, the water removal is stopped in case the blood volume or the blood volume change becomes less than said alarm level. When the blood indication level attains downward by exceeding the urgent liquid supply line defined beneath said deviated control line (alarm line), not only the working means that carries out blood treatment as mentioned above is stopped temporarily, but the blood indication level is recovered rapidly to be above said deviated control line (alarm line) by using the liquid supply means to inject liquid supply inside the body together. For example, when the water removal is performed with the water removal speed (j), the blood volume or the blood volume change became less than said alarm level. Therefore, the water removal at the next controlling point is stopped, and the water removal speed (k) was set to 0.

Moreover, as a result of termination of said water removal, the actual blood volume change ΔBV level have been recovered to be above said alarm level, the water removal speed is calculated so that the remaining water removal volume at that controlling point is finished to be removed within the target water removal time (determined water removal volume), and the water removal is performed with said determined water removal speed (l). By performing the water removal with said determined water removal speed (l), the actual ΔBV level becomes less than said alarm level again. Therefore, the water removal at the next controlling point is stopped and the water removal speed (m) was set to 0. Furthermore, as a result of termination of said water removal, the actual ΔBV level have been recovered to be above the control line, the water removal speed is calculated so that the remaining water removal volume at that controlling point is finished to be removed within the target water removal time (determined water removal volume), and the water removal is performed with said determined water removal speed (n). However, as said determined water removal speed (n) exceeds the maximum water removal speed line H, the maximum water removal speed was adapted as the actual water removal speed. As the target water removal volume was not finished to be removed by the end of the target water removal time, the water removal was performed with the maximum water removal speed up to the target removal volume, and the dialysis was finished. 

1. A hemodialysis apparatus, comprising: a blood measuring means that measures a blood parameter, converts the blood parameter into a blood index value and conveys to a control member; and an actual working member that performs a blood treatment, wherein the control member sets up a target control line which consists of target blood index values determined previously at each measurement point of a lapsed time of hemodialysis processing, controls a water removal speed of the working member by a following formula (a): BV ₀{−(% ΔBV _(n−1′)−% ΔBV _(n′))+(% ΔBV _(n′)−% ΔBV _(n+1))}/T+UFR _(n) =UFR _(n+1)  (a) and the target control line, until a blood volume decreases to a preset patient's standard blood volume in a former part of the hemodialysis, and controls the water removal speed of the working member to maintain the preset patient's standard blood volume in a latter part of the hemodialysis wherein B V₀ is the blood volume at a time of initiation of the hemodialysis; %ΔBV_(n′) is a ratio of the blood volume change at an optional selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the hemodialysis; %ΔBV_(n−1′) is the ratio of the blood volume change at the previous measurement point of the selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the hemodialysis; %ΔBV_(n+1) is the ratio of the blood volume change determined by the target control line at a measurement point (n+1), a next measurement point of the selected measurement point (n); T is a measurement time; UFR_(n) is the water removal speed at the selected measurement point (n) in the former part of the hemodialysis; and UFR_(n+1) is the water removal speed defined when control toward the working member is carried out, to attain a target blood indication level at the measurement point (n+1); and a distance of each measurement point is defined to be short so that a patient's plasma refilling rate (PRR) at each measurement point does not change substantively; wherein the PRR is a speed of blood plasma that is refilled from a patient's body to a blood vessel using the following formula (b): PRRn−UFRn=ΔBVn′/Tn  (b) wherein PRRn is the plasma refilling rate at an optional measurement point (n), UFRn is the water removal speed at the optional measurement point (n), ΔBVn′ is the blood volume change at the optional measurement point (n), and Tn is the elapsed time until the optional measurement point (n).
 2. The hemodialysis apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the control member controls the actual working member so that in the latter part of the hemodialysis, when the latter part of the hemodialysis is started, the water removal speed is calculated again so that a remaining water removal volume is finished to be removed within a target water removal time, and the water removal is performed with the water removal speed.
 3. The hemodialysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control member controls the actual working member so that a maximum water removal speed is defined beforehand separately for the former and latter part of the hemodialysis, and in case the water removal speed exceeds the maximum water removal speed, the water removal is performed with the defined maximum water removal speed.
 4. The hemodialysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control member controls the actual working member so that an alarm line to limit a change of the blood index level within a predetermined range over a course of time is defined beneath the target control line separately for the former and latter part of the hemodialysis, and when the blood index level turns into the blood index level below the alarm line, the water removal is performed with the water removal speed such as the blood index level exceeds the alarm line upward.
 5. The hemodialysis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control member controls the actual working member so that an urgent liquid supply line is defined beneath the alarm line in the latter part of the hemodialysis, and in case the blood index level attains downward by an exceeding alarm line, a water removal operation is stopped temporarily and the actual working member is controlled to recover the blood index level to be above the alarm line by using together a liquid supply means to inject liquid supply into the patient's body. 